title: The cost of childhood cancer from the family's perspective: a critical review.
abstract: The costs incurred by the families of children with cancer remain under researched. The objectives were to systematically review the literature and identify research and clinical implications. Thirteen studies were critically appraised using the Pediatric Quality Appraisal Questionnaire (PQAQ) [Ungar and Santos. Value Health 2003; 6:584-594]. Existing research indicates that families incur significant variable costs throughout cancer treatment. However, problems with the published studies related to various PQAQ domains (e.g., time horizon, sensitivity analysis) rendered the magnitude of families' childhood cancer costs somewhat uncertain. Strategies for enhancing the quality of childhood cancer cost of illness research are presented. Implications for clinical practice are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Center for Health Policy, School of Nursing, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032, USA. at2704@columbia.edu
authors.forename: Argerie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tsimicalis
authors.forename: Bonnie
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.forename: Wendy J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Ungar
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: McKeever
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Greenberg
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005190:Family; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000191:economics*